Gunmen have attacked and killed four operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Services and also set five buildings ablaze.

It was gathered that the incident happened in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State at 2 am on Thursday.

A source in the area said after attacking and killing the vigilante operatives at the local government secretariat, the gunmen beheaded one of them.

He said the gunmen also used Improvised Explosive Devise to burn down about five buildings in the area.

An unconfirmed source also added that one of the affected buildings was housing the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The reason for the attack could not be ascertained but the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.

Ikenga said police operatives were alerted and when they arrived at the scene, one of the gunmen was killed by police operatives when they were confronted.

He confirmed that as of the time police operatives responded to the call, the gunmen had murdered three vigilante operatives on duty and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs.

He said police and military operations are currently ongoing in the area.

He said, “Following the police/military operations ongoing in Ihiala and its neighbouring town, the operatives responding to a distress call at about 2:55 am, today 12/1/2023 of an attack on Ihiala local government headquarters.

“The police neutralized one of the attackers, recovered two locally made IED luncher, seven undenoted IEDs, forty pieces of live cartridges, fifteen live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons.

“The attackers had already murdered, three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs.

“The joint force operatives engaged the arsonist/attackers, and obstructed them from causing further damages, while some escaped with bullet wounds.

“The bodies of the victims were recovered and joint operations are still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated, please.”